Introduction

Gingerbread LandRPG

System: Fate Core

What is the game about?

Physically fragile but intellectually sharp Gingerbread-folk envision a world where they can defend their own land from a dire threat while wrestling with the principles of non-violence – or, at the very least, non-lethality – that are all-but-inherent to their race.

What is the threat?

Gingerbread Land shares the continent of Fabulorigo (fab-yoo-LOR-i-go) with Toy Land, Wonder Land, and Story Land. Gingerbread Land is so beloved by the other lands that if ever a threat were to arise against it, the other lands would rush to defend it. In fact, some threats have emerged and marched towards Gingerbread Land, but the other lands have stopped these threats before they ever even got close to their goal.

This fact makes most in Gingerbread Land feel as though they’re free to indulge their non-violent tendencies and simply trust the rest of the lands to shield them whenever danger arises. A few others, however, aren’t convinced of the wisdom of this sentiment. To begin with, their consciences wonder if taking advantage of the kindnesses of others in this way is morally proper. But also, they wonder if defending their homeland isn’t really their own responsibility that ought to be taken to heart in its own right.

So, one threat to Gingerbread Land may simply be the complacency of Gingerbread Land itself in regard to its own defense.

Other potential threats include:

-Individuals from Toy Land, Wonder Land, or Story Land who wish to control the resources of Gingerbread Land for their own purposes. Gingerbread Land is a free and perpetual source of all sweet treats imaginable that the Gingerbread-folk give away to the rest of the realms at no charge. Gingerbread-folk abhor violence and eagerly welcome any and all visitors to their land. The place is practically begging the unscrupulous to conquer and exploit it.

-Individuals from Toy Land, Wonder Land, or Story Land who wish to utterly destroy Gingerbread Land for some reason (military strategy, political intrigue, insanity, proxy war, food allergies…)

-Individuals who fit either of the above descriptions who have been successful in infiltrating Gingerbread Land society. They could command a vast conspiracy involving the corruption of specific disgruntled Gingerbread-folk, or they could be lone assassins, or anything in between. Indeed, the adventure could be triggered by a “political incident” within Gingerbread Land itself. The fact that such an incident has never happened before – or has very rarely happened – would only enhance the sense of shock and fear that emerges in response to it.

-Self-exiled Gingerbread-folk who hold a grudge against the land of their birth.

In fact, the greatest threat against Gingerbread Land is self-exiled Gingerbread-man, Blackstrap the Coal-hearted. He has never succeeded in leading his armies to Gingerbread Land, but he has often kidnapped and killed Gingerbread-folk traveling abroad in the other lands. Blackstrap is the arch-enemy of Gingerbread Land, and it would never be surprising if he was discovered to be behind – or at least in alliance with – any other kind of threat.

What motivates the protagonists?

The protagonists of the game share in common an overwhelming desire to create a corps of Gingerbread-folk who accept the responsibility to protect their own. That said, each member of the party has her/his own reasons for feeling this way.

Examples: a profound love for Gingerbread Land and its people and its cultures and an intense concern regarding anything that might remotely threaten any of it; a hunger for knowledge and adventure; a desire to distinguish oneself through great deeds; a trauma related to the Gingerbread-folk who have been murdered abroad (or murdered in the recent “political incident”); a trauma related to being attacked by Blackstrap and/or his minions while travelling abroad; a trauma related to some strained relationship with one or more other Gingerbread-folk in Gingerbread Land; some dissatisfaction with life in Gingerbread Land that they can’t put a finger on or simply don’t want to admit… etc.